Four Pillar Friday
Your weekly guide to thriving in every aspect of life—Physical, Mental, Spiritual, and Financial Wellness.

This Week’s Quote:
Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.” — Warren Buffett

Physical Wellness

If you’re looking for a simple, powerful, and sustainable way to improve your physical wellness, without a gym, complex gear, or endless cardio consider this: just add weight to your walk.

Rucking is one of the most primal forms of exercise we’ve got. Humans were built to carry things. And it turns out, doing so may be one of the best ways to support your long-term health, resilience, and longevity.

In this deep dive, author Michael Easter covers everything you didn’t know you needed to know about rucking—from calorie burn and injury risk to why it’s especially effective for women and how much weight you should actually carry.

He covers:

• Why rucking is safer than running and more beneficial than lifting for many people
• The strength-building, bone-saving benefits especially critical for women
• How “super medium” may be the most functional, resilient body type
• How to start rucking and find your ideal weight
• And yes, even if carrying your toddler in a backpack counts (it does).

It’s actionable, informative, and backed by both research and real-life application.

Mental Wellness

In a recent study highlighted by Harvard Medical School, nearly half of the world’s population will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime. Conditions like anxiety, depression, and substance use are not rare—they’re common human experiences. This research underscores the importance of early awareness, access to care, and breaking the stigma that often surrounds mental wellness. At The 9:03 Collective and Journey Wealth, we believe mental health is not just personal—it’s foundational to how we live, lead, and connect.

Financial Wellness

In the middle of market turbulence and nonstop financial headlines, it’s easy to believe that your most important assets are your stocks, bonds, or real estate. But in a recent piece titled “The Holy Trinity of Assets,” financial advisor Anthony Isola challenges that narrative with a powerful reframe: real wealth is about time, health, and money—and not necessarily in that order.

Drawing from life’s three stages, Isola explains how most people spend years chasing financial growth, only to arrive at a place where time is short and health is fragile. The problem? They missed the rare, in-between moment when they had all three—and could have truly lived.

This message hits home for me…wealth is not just what you accumulate, but how you spend your most finite resources—especially time. As Isola writes, “You can always rebalance your investments. But you can’t buy back your time or your health.” If you’ve ever hesitated to book the trip, have the conversation, or start the project—this is your reminder not to wait.

Spiritual Wellness

Awhile back I read In My Time of Dying by Sebastian Junger. It was the latest in this most recent stretch including War, Freedom, and Tribe.

Junger writes about his own near-death experience and what unfolds is less about death and more about everything we wrestle with when we’re forced to confront our own mortality including faith, identity, fear, and what may or may not come next. There’s no agenda here. It’s not a spiritual instruction manual. It feels like a deeply honest conversation in his head.

Reading it made me reflect on how we rarely sit with these questions until we’re forced to. It reminded me of why the spiritual pillar of wellness matters so much. Not just for the end, but for how we live right now. How we show up. What we hold onto. And what we let go of.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering about the space between life and death—not just in theory but in real, personal terms—I’d recommend this one. Not for answers, but for what it might stir up.

Stay Connected:
What steps—big or small—are you taking in physical, mental, financial, and spiritual wellness? Maybe you pushed your limits in a workout, made a mindful financial choice, or found time for reflection.

We’d love to hear how you’re integrating Physical, Mental, Financial, and Spiritual Wellness into your week. Drop a comment, message us, or tag us—because growth happens when we show up and share the journey. And if this resonates with you, share it with someone who might find it meaningful.

Here’s to Living Richly,
The Journey Team & The 9:03 Collective